The remote but outstanding Lake Turkana National Parks comprise three national parks: Sibiloi National Park, Central Island National Park, and South Island National Park. Lake Turkana, situated in the northern part of Kenya, is the most saline lake in Africa and the largest desert lake in the world. The lake is sometimes known as the Jade Sea because of its striking greenish-blue color and measures 300 kilometers long and 50 kilometers wide.
Lake Turkana’s waters are 2.5 times saltier than the normal maximum limit for drinking water. The lake supports diverse habitats of semi-desert terrestrial and shoreline environments characterized by mud, sand, pebble, and rock. Its surroundings consist of grassy plains, groves of desert dates, acacia savannas, and bushlands.
The primary inflow to Lake Turkana is the Omo River, flowing from Ethiopia. However, the Ethiopian government is now aiming to establish huge water dams along the Omo River, which might greatly affect the water levels of Lake Turkana and its habitats.
Sibiloi National Park Sibiloi National Park covers an area of 1,570 square kilometers at the heart of Lake Turkana. UNESCO designated it as a World Heritage Site for its fossils, making it a top tourist destination for archaeological enthusiasts. The park is also home to a unique petrified forest with numerous tree fossils dating back to the prehistoric period.
Sibiloi National Park, located on the northeastern shores of Lake Turkana, was established in 1973 to protect the wildlife and paleontological sites. The park hosts wildlife species such as spotted hyenas, striped jackals, lions, cheetahs, leopards, caracals, beisa oryx, gerenuk, greater kudu, and Grevy’s zebras, among others. It also boasts one of the highest concentrations of flamingoes and several other bird species, including the Somali bee-eater, common ostrich, fox kestrel, black-tailed godwit, Kori bustard, Taita falcon, chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, ducks, and much more.
South Island National Park South Island National Park, one of the three parks within Lake Turkana, spans 39 square kilometers on a volcanic island that is home to feral goats, poisonous snakes, and a large concentration of crocodiles. There is only one campsite on South Island, where camping costs $35. South Island National Park was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.
Central Island National Park Central Island National Park, another of the Lake Turkana National Parks, is sometimes referred to as Crocodile Island. The island consists of several craters and cones, with three craters filled with water forming alkaline lakes named Flamingo Lake, Crocodile Lake, and Tilapia Lake.
Entry Fees The entry fee for Lake Turkana National Parks is KES 300 for adult East African citizens and Kenyan residents, KES 215 for Kenyan and East African citizen children and students, while foreign non-resident adults will pay $25 and foreign resident children and students will pay $15. Entry fees are subject to annual change, so it is important to check for updated rates. Camping at Central Island costs $35 per person per night.
History Fossil deposits in sedimentary formations were discovered around Lake Turkana, with 100 archaeological and paleontological sites representing unique geomorphological features. The discovery of Paranthropus boisei was made in 1969 at Koobi Fora to the north of Allia Bay. Later, discoveries of Homo habilis confirmed the existence of relatively intelligent hominids 2 million years ago.
Remains of five species of pre-human and human fossil species, including early australopithecines and Australopithecus anamensis estimated to be 3.4 to 4.2 million years old, were found. The youngest Central Island tuffs and lavas are estimated to be as recent as the Holocene. In the 1930s, sulfur sprays were observed emanating from fumaroles by visitors to the island. Fumarolic activity is concentrated along the southeastern and northeastern rims of the central crater. In 1974, intense emissions of molten sulfur and steam clouds were reported by locals on the mainland.
UNESCO recognized Lake Turkana National Parks as World Heritage Sites in 1997, and the parks were expanded in 2001.
Location
Lake Turkana is located in the northwestern part of Kenya, close to the borders of Ethiopia and Uganda. It is 665 kilometers from Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city. There are chartered flights from Nairobi to Loiyangalani or Lodwar. Tourists are advised to use air transport when traveling to Turkana because the Turkana people, the Pokot, and surrounding communities sometimes engage in cattle rustling, and there is a risk of getting caught in crossfire, though they are not interested in harming foreigners. Nonetheless, caution is advised.
Best Time to Visit Lake Turkana experiences a semi-arid climate, where it’s hot almost throughout the year, especially from May to September and December to February. The best time to visit will depend on your interests. The dry season is good for general wildlife viewing, whereas some wet seasons are the breeding times for flamingoes, and this is also when migratory birds are present in the parks.
Accommodation There are not many accommodation options at Lake Turkana, but tourists can camp at Kobi Fora Base Campsite and Camp Turkana. Some accommodation units near the lake shores include Eliye Springs, Proland Inn Limited, Sandfields Lodwar Camp, Palm Shade Resort, Malabo Resort, and Desert Rose, to mention a few.
Animals Lake Turkana National Parks host diverse wildlife, for example, crocodiles, saw-scaled vipers, puff adders, cobras, night adders, hippos, reticulated giraffes, beisa oryx, lesser kudu, cheetahs, leopards, lions, Grevy’s zebra, and much more. It might not be as easy to spot mammals like in other Kenyan national parks.
Lake Turkana National Parks are also home to various species of birds, with 34 migratory bird species recorded. Some examples of birds found at the parks include the African skimmer, African open-billed stork, Goliath heron, lesser flamingoes, black-winged stilt, African sacred ibis, grey heron, blue-billed teal, pink-backed pelican, white-faced whistling duck, common quail, yellow-billed stork, African pygmy goose, great crested grebe, harlequin quail, helmeted guineafowl, Eurasian wigeon, Egyptian goose, African black duck, white-browed coucal, and Cape teal among others.
What to Do Visit the Islands Most tourists visiting Lake Turkana explore the national park islands. The three islands of Lake Turkana National Parks all provide different unique experiences.
Sport Fishing Anglers can enjoy fishing at Lake Turkana, and in most cases, you are allowed to consume your catch for dinner. There are designated sites for fishing, but you can also choose your own spot. The most common fish species in the lake are Nile perch, tilapia, catfish, and tigerfish, among others. Some hotels provide fishing gear, while others do not, so you may need to bring your own. Lake Turkana is home to 60 species of fish, 7 of which are endemic.
Visit the People The Turkana people, from whom the lake derives its name, are an ethnic group of pastoralists related to the Karamojong of Uganda, the Toposa and Jie of Sudan, and the Nyangatom of Ethiopia. They migrated from Ethiopia and settled around Lake Turkana and beyond.
The Turkana people have a rich and authentic culture, somewhat like the famous Maasai people, and they express their culture in many different ways. Include a visit to a Turkana homestead in your trip to Lake Turkana National Park and learn more about the Turkana people by engaging in their day-to-day activities such as cattle grazing, traditional dances, and preparing a local meal, among others.
Boat Rides Even if you do not visit the national park islands, a boat ride around the lake will expose you to its flora and fauna. Enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets over the desert lake, and birders will also see many aquatic birds during the ride.
Attractions/What to See Crocodiles Central Island National Park boasts the highest concentration of crocodiles in the world, with over 120,000 crocodiles estimated to be living in the lake. The crocodiles of Lake Turkana are also exceptionally large compared to most crocodiles in other areas.
Crater Lakes One of the main attractions of the parks is the three crater lakes, each with a unique habitat. In Central Island, you can find Tilapia Lake, Crocodile Lake, and Flamingo Lake.
Birds Lake Turkana is a birders’ paradise with numerous species of birds recorded. Bird enthusiasts can spot aquatic and migratory birds, especially from November to April.
Fossils at Koobi Fora The Koobi Fora fossils found at Sibiloi National Park have contributed significantly to the understanding of human and paleo-environments more than any other site in Africa. This attracts not only archaeologists but also tourists interested in learning about ancient history.
Tourists visiting Lake Turkana National Parks can travel there by road or by air transport. There are two airstrips in Turkana that you can fly into from Nairobi.
